Journalistic Web Story

Creating a Sense of Hope

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            As many countries across the world attempt to recover and stop the spread of Covid-19, many struggles with keeping their jobs through this pandemic. There have been many Americans who have recently had to file for unemployment as businesses have taken a huge hit with a decrease in business.

There are businesses that have been able to increase sales and do better off because of the pandemic such as fast food restaurants. After speaking with workers in different industries, there is different views of how the pandemic has affected the economy. Taking a look at the coronavirus and how it can affect people and their jobs has many different views.

Worried Workers

            Josh Pierce, a technician at Good Vibes Garage south of Laramie located on Highway 287, has recently been laid off due to slow of business. Josh who has been working at Good Vibes Garage for 5 months has gotten used to being able to come into this shop and go to work every day not having to worry about being laid off due to any type of virus.

Now that this has changed, he is having to accommodate his living situation now that he is not having any source of income till this virus slows down. When asked about how the economy has been affected and how people will be able to accommodate from this virus, Josh said, “I think that the economy will for sure take a big hit with this one. I think a lot of Americans are going to struggle even though a lot of them will get a $1,200 stimulus check. That is going to affect the economy too by doing that. We’re really in a catch-22 with this.”

When speaking with Josh there was a lot of worry coming from him as he has a girlfriend and a baby to take care of. As this is expected now, Josh is very concerned with how this will play out. He has high hopes that things will get better although it is “tough to stay positive through this,” as Mr. Pierce mentioned. Now looking at another part of the economy, the fast food industry has taken a turn for the good as many people have been able to receive a job from different food chains. Adonia Grinevicius, the Co-Manager at Little Caesars here in Laramie has a different view.

            A Positive Outlook

When asked about what she thought about the Coronavirus pandemic, she said, “I believe that even though many people are struggling, there are a lot of people that are benefiting from this virus. I’m honestly scared for my family members of them getting sick, but I do think that a lot of people are able to get jobs in the fast food industry more so now than before.”

She also included, “Many of my friends who have been out of a job for quite some time, have at least gotten jobs since Covid-19 hit.” When talking with Adonia she did sound very optimistic that things will get better for businesses around the country and world as time goes on.

Getting a job can always be difficult but with a pandemic going on things can be different or the same as before. After speaking with Josh and Adonia, it is tough to decide. Josh is worried that the economy will be worse off than before with everything on. There is belief that even though things may be getting better with people not being sick as much, the economy will still suffer.

Adonia is a bit more optimistic of how things will turn out. Her view on what the economy would be like once the pandemic is no longer was this; “I think that the economy is going to be so much better because people are actually going to need jobs which will then help the economy.”